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The Illinois Food Safety Act calls for prohibiting the use of
certain additives to food, including red dye #3 and titanium
dioxide, which the sponsors say are linked to serious health
problems.
“I want Illinoisans to be more confident when grocery shopping
that they are not purchasing products that are laced with
ingredients classified as toxic and harmful for human
consumption,” the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Willie Preston,
D-Chicago, said.
Bryan Hitchcock, chief science and technology officer with the
Institute of Food Technologists, said if adopted, the law will
be an expensive endeavor for food companies.
“Compliance is going to be very costly, including researching
alternative ingredients, developing and testing alternative
products, navigating higher ingredient costs, designing new
labels and setting up new supply chains,” Hitchcock told The
Center Square.
Last fall, California enacted a law that banned four additives.
That law takes effect in 2027.
The Illinois Manufacturers' Association has already gone on
record against Illinois' proposed measure, saying it would set a
dangerous precedent and would create a patchwork of regulations
for food manufacturing. Hitchcock agrees.
“The inconsistencies between Illinois and other states enacting
legislation that directly conflicts with federal regulations
reinforces the critical need for science and technology in
government,” Hitchcock said.
Hitchcock adds that some businesses may consider what products
they produce and distribute to Illinois, or they may opt to
leave the state entirely depending on their business plans and
priorities.
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